The Northern Ireland transfer test

At a glance

The test

The SEAG Entrance Assessment (the transfer test)

Set by

GL Assessment, which sets and marks it for SEAG (the Schools' Entrance Assessment Group)

Subjects

English (or Gaeilge), maths

Answers

Some multiple choice, some written, depending on the paper

Who sits it

Around 13,000 pupils a year (SEAG); around 40,000 pupils had sat the SEAG assessment by the end of 2025.

The papers

Two papers of identical format and difficulty, sat on two Saturdays; pupils sit both. Each starts with an untimed practice section (5 English and 5 maths questions, not counted), then a 60-minute main test of 56 one-mark questions, starting with either subject: English (28 questions: punctuation, grammar and spelling exercises of 5 multiple-choice questions each, then a comprehension passage with 13 questions, 7 multiple choice and 6 free response) and maths (28 questions: 22 multiple choice, 6 free response). Multiple-choice questions have 5 options and answers go on an answer sheet. Content follows the Northern Ireland Curriculum at Key Stage 2 (comprehension, spelling and punctuation, grammar, vocabulary; number, measures, shape and space, money, probability, data). A Gaeilge version is offered at 12 centres. SEAG replaced the previous arrangement of two different entrance assessments over four consecutive Saturdays with this single assessment.

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Dates, results and scores

Good to know

The schools

Schools with a page of their own have their places, qualifying scores and priority areas, from their admissions policies.

Also using the test: Lagan College (Belfast), Slemish College (Ballymena), Strangford Integrated College.

More on the 11+

Sources

Every fact here comes from the official pages below. Dates and scores change from year to year, so check them there before you rely on them.

• seagni.co.uk
• seagni.co.uk/guidance/key-dates
• seagni.co.uk/guidance/assessment-guide
• seagni.co.uk/about-us/what-we-do
• seagni.co.uk/about-us/member-schools
• seagni.co.uk/latest-news/sasassasa
• SEAG '2026 Entrance Assessment Format (at a glance)' PDF, linked from seagni.co.uk/guidance/assessment-guide
• SEAG 'Guidance Notes for Parents/Guardians: The SEAG 2026 Entrance Assessment' PDF, linked from seagni.co.uk/guidance/assessment-guide
• SEAG 'Specification for the 2026 Entrance Assessment' PDF, linked from seagni.co.uk/guidance/assessment-guide
• eani.org.uk/parents/pupil-applications-and-grants/admissions/admissions-key-dates
• eani.org.uk/parents/admissions/post-primary-admissions-guide

Checked 2 November 2026.